Subscription service for electronic cigarettes

Abstract

A model for a subscription service for electronic cigarettes includes an e-Cig retailer with a network computer that is configured to communicate with an e-Cig, an e-Cig charging pack, a mobile phone of an e-Cig user, a subscription database, and/or a manufacturer of e-Cigs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subscription service system for a user of an electronic smoking device, the system comprising:
 at least one of the electronic smoking device or a pack communicatively linked to the electronic smoking device, the pack configured to store or charge the electronic smoking device;   a user mobile device communicatively linked to the at least one of the electronic smoking device or the pack, the user computer configured to store user data;   a subscription database network communicatively linked to at least one of the user mobile device or the at least one of the electronic smoking device or the pack, the subscription database network configured to process the user data and, in response thereto, provide at least one of an automated notification or an automated retail service to the user or to a third party.   
     
     
         2 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the electronic smoking device or the pack, the user mobile device, and the subscription database network are communicatively linked via at least one of a direct communication channel or a communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The subscription service system of  claim 2 , wherein the direct communication channel comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) or a barcode capable of being scanned by a retailer computer; and wherein the RFID or barcode is located on at least one of the electronic smoking device, the pack, or the user mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the user mobile device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal data assistant, or a tablet personal computer. 
     
     
         5 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the user data comprises at least one of a supply status of the user, a vaping habit of the user, or a location of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The subscription service system of  claim 5 , wherein the user data comprises at least one of a remaining battery life, a remaining level of smoke juice, a number of spare cartomizers, a rate at which the number of spare cartomizers is being utilized, a rate at which the remaining level of smoke juice is being utilized, and a rate at which the remaining battery life is being utilized. 
     
     
         7 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated notification comprises at least one of a coupon, a promotional offer, or a message. 
     
     
         8 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated retail service comprises a recurring or unscheduled refill or replacement purchase of at least one of a cartomizer, a smoke juice, a battery, a new electronic smoking device, or a new pack. 
     
     
         9 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the subscription database network is configured to provide the automated notification to at least one of the user mobile device or the pack. 
     
     
         10 . The subscription service system of  claim 1 , wherein the third party is at least one of a retailer or a manufacturer of the electronic smoking device. 
     
     
         11 . The subscription service of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a retailer or a manufacturer communicatively linked to the subscription database network. 
     
     
         12 . The subscription service of  claim 11 , wherein the retailer comprises a retail computer network. 
     
     
         13 . The subscription service of  claim 11 , wherein the manufacturer comprises a manufacturer computer network. 
     
     
         14 . The subscription service of  claim 11 , wherein the subscription database network is configured to match the retailer with a user based on at least one of the user data, a location of the user, or an inventory of the retailer. 
     
     
         15 . The subscription service of  claim 11 , wherein the subscription database network is configured to match the manufacturer with at least one of the retailer or a user based on at least one of the user data, a location of the user, or an inventory of the retailer. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a subscription service to a user of an electronic smoking device, the method comprising:
 collecting user data from at least one of the electronic smoking device, a pack configured to store or charge the electronic smoking device, or a user mobile device; and   providing at least one of an automated notification or an automated retail service in response to the user data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the user data comprises at least one of a supply status of the user, a vaping habit of the user, or a location of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing at least one of an automated notification or an automated retail service comprises matching the user data with data from at least one retailer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the data from the at least one retailer comprises inventory data or location data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing at least one of an automated notification or an automated retail service comprises providing at least one of a coupon, a promotional offer, a message, or a recurring or unscheduled refill or replacement purchase of at least a portion of the electronic smoking device or pack.